All the final Christmas celebration!

Finally back home and time to do our Christmas!! It was a long day but so worth it in the end. The boys had a blast at my brother's house and then came home to more presents.

We put Kennedi to bed and then it was time to dig in. Here are some pictures from Christmas night.

opening presents

Conner and his North Face jacket

Chris opening his DS... yes almost 40 and wanted a DS!

Avery in his new hat.

The boys waiting for their scavenger hunt clue!

Chris reading one of the many clues

Ahhh the reward for the scavenger hunt!! Laptops!!

Conner and his winning lottery ticket.. A whole $15.

Christmas Afternoon...

When we picked the boys up at 3pm from their dads house we headed up to Atlanta to have Christmas with my family. It is so nice that the farthest we have to drive for a gathering is about 40 minutes. When we got there the house was packed! It is always crazy when you have this many celebrating!

Here is the whole group. It is not easy getting this many to cooperate when taking a picture.

Here are the grand kids and the great grand kids. Aren't they cute?!?! The oldest in the picture is about 29 (I think) and the youngest is Kennedi at 16 months. These are the ones that I wrote This post about. What a group!

Here are the two that started it all.

The little kids were about to play outside since the weather was good. They had so much fun playing together. There is only about 12 months difference between the oldest of the three babies and the youngest.

We had a great meal with a TON of food! After that we exchanged some gifts and the kids did a white elephant gift exchange. Unfortunately my camera battery died and I did not get any pictures of that. It was pretty funny to watch. I hope this becomes a yearly thing on Christmas! I already have ideas for next year's gifts.

Kennedi opening one of her gifts.

It was a wonderful day! And at the end we still had to get home to do one more Christmas. At this point it was after 7 and the boys had not opened any of their gifts at home. We said our good-byes and then headed home for Christmas celebration #3 of the day.

Christmas Morning

Christmas was a LONG day this year. Chris got off of work about 1am on Christmas Eve and Kennedi was the only child home. This was the year for the boys to wake up at their father's house.

Chris brought me breakfast in bed about 8am. It was wonderful to sleep in that late! And then we headed down with Kennedi to open a few presents.

Santa came!!

And left lots of great stuff!

The stockings were heavy this year so they would not go back up on the holders.

Kennedi saw her inch worm right away and ran to it!

She loved to play on it.

Kennedi made it though about 9 presents and then wanted to play with the toys. She actually has more to open still but they are put up for today.

All 3 of us took a nice long nap and when we woke up it was time to get ready to get the boys and head out to Christmas celebration #2.

First Christmas Celebration...

Yesterday morning in the pouring rain, Chris, Kennedi and I headed for the 2 1/2 hour drive to see Chris' parents and celebrate Christmas with them. It was a LONG drive between the rain and having a sick baby. Poor Kennedi is still sick. She is getting better but it is a slow process. I really hope she is good to go and back to herself by Christmas morning!

It was a lot of fun. Both kids racked up and probably already have enough for this year!
I forgot to charge my camera and the battery died early but here are a few pictures from the day.

Chris and his 2 kids.... yeah horrible picture of Chris!

Chris and Dakota

Kennedi and Chris' Dad

Dakota... he was mad we made him turn off the TV.

Kennedi and Dakota

Dakota is thinking... Finally it is present time!!

Dakota opening up some of his presents

Kennedi's turn

little sister watching big brother open presents

Thinking and driving... driving and thinking...

As I was out driving today determined to finish my Christmas shopping (which I did.. I think), I was thinking about my kids and my family that I came from and how amazing they all are!

First I will start with my two older boys. My older two have really grown up into some great young men! Coming from a divorced household, they are used to splitting every holiday with my ex and myself, missing out on some of my family gatherings and such. It is just something that happens when you have to share.

This year Christmas with my family is at my brother's house (we rotate each year) and he lives almost an hour away. With picking up the kids in the middle of the afternoon on Christmas day it would be really hard to get them, come home and then head to my brothers. I told my kids that we would miss the family Christmas this year since everything would be so rushed. They were bummed since they do not get to see all their cousins regularly since many are grown and spread out (soon to be across the country). I had thrown a few different ideas out to try to make it work but they are seemed really complicated to pull off.

My kids and I came up with the idea that we could pick them up at their dads house, drive to my brothers for the family Christmas, then at some point drive back home and then do our Christmas that night whenever we would arrive back at the house. I knew they would never go for that, after all they look forward to their presents. I was absolutely shocked when they said that is what they wanted to do!! They wanted to put their Christmas on hold so they could spend time with their cousins! WOW!!!

So for now... that is the Christmas plan. Of course we will have Kennedi do her Christmas in the morning because she will be ready for bed by the time we get back home that night. I am actually still shocked that they decided they wanted to do that.

Why would they want to do that you may ask..... well lets see if they stayed home they would be missing out on:

*their grandparents (my parents)... who had.....
*4 children... who are all married..... who went on to have......
*17 grandchildren...... and 3 of them had added....
*spouses.... and..... 4 great-grand children.......

which means A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF CRAZINESS but obviously A LOT OF FUN, that my kids do not want to miss!!!!

Wow... now thinking about how amazing and blessed my family is (and I know I am going to leave someone out or forget something... sorry)......here are some random facts about them.... Out of the 17 grandchildren my parents have.....

11 of the 17 are college aged and older.... 4 of them are college graduates, 2 of those have gone on to get advanced degrees (one in business, the other a PA)! Out of the 4 graduates, 3 played sports while in college (one played soccer and 2 played baseball), the one that did not play a sport attended one of the US Military Academy's (GO AIR FORCE)!

5 more are in college and getting ready to graduate (some this year, some next). 1 of those is keeping up his love for baseball and is playing in college. 2 of those in college are ROTC and one hopes to go on to get an advanced degree in medicine. Most of them are having a blast in their Fraternities/Sororities
He is something great in these times... ALL of those not in college have jobs!!

Have I lost you yet?? There is still more!!

Out of the 3 in high school..... two play sports (one is soccer and the other baseball) and the 3rd is hoping to make the 9th grade team this year (go Conner)! Funny thing too.... out of the grandchildren, 6 of them play or played baseball. I have the only child that is NOT a pitcher!

As for living in the south and college rivalries.....Football season is interesting!
out of my siblings and I, two of us (not me) went to an SEC school and with the grandchildren so far we have 3 different SEC schools represented (Auburn, Ole Miss, and South Carolina) and 1 ACC school (GT) that has just as bad a rivalry with some of those SEC schools. I am hoping that a certain 4th school is NOT added in 2 years (come on Blake...think Auburn and not Georgia).

Between all the grand kids they have all stayed semi-close to home and are still somewhere in the south. Well until the spring when my nephew packs up his family and heads out west to train on his new plane. I am still in shock that they allow him to fly a plane all by himself, well with 1 other person in there. That to me is amazing... not that he is allowed to do it, but I guess that he is old enough and can do it! WAY TO GO MATT!!

Most importantly, ALL of the grand kids are wonderful people who love their family and the time we get to spend together. Thanks to face book it is now easier to stay connected with all of them!!

So... now you can see a little bit on why my kids do not want to miss out on the family Christmas this year... At least I will have a great camera with me to catch many many great memories!!

Here are 13 of the 17

Here are some more of the 17....some are in both pictures...

and the last missing of the 17...

Christmas time is here!!!

Ahhh we did it!! We got into the Christmas spirit.... a little!

Saturday we finally made it out to get a tree! We went to once place and did not find one so we went to where my parents got theirs since it was a nice tree. Yup, we got our tree at Kroger this year (don't laugh). It was a great price too! And pretty... see....

We set it up and let it be on Saturday while Chris went to work. Sunday after church we were all together (since Chris went into work at 3) and we were able to decorate it not once but twice!

There is nothing like getting the tree up and decorated, then standing back to look at how pretty it is, noticing that it is leaning just a little and then seconds later watching it crash onto the floor. Ok so it did not crack onto the floor but it did crash onto the fireplace. Luckily only one ornament was lost in the crash!

So Sunday we took all the ornaments off the tree, took the tree back outside and did a little operating (that was Chris' job) to get it to fit in the stand correctly.

The above picture was taken after the 2nd time decorating.

Today I decided that it was about time to take Kennedi to see Santa Clause. I mean what is Christmas without scarring your young child for life making them sit on a strangers lap???

So.....

I got Kennedi dressed in one of her Christmas outfits....
and.....

scarred her for life (ok maybe not since she will not remember it).....

After that I decided to take her .......

To ride the Pink Pig!!!


I mean really..... what is Christmas without heading to Lenox to ride Priscilla, the Pink Pig???

At least she liked that!!!!

**and yes, I was a bad mommy and forgot the camera so all pictures are taken with the camera on the phone**

Now if I could only get into the Christmas spirit a little more and wrap some of the many gifts that need to be wrapped!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Whoa what a contest!!

Jennifer over at My Charming Kids is able to do a great contest that is open until Christmas Eve!! Everyone needs to go check it out.

This is the daddy of all give-a-ways!! It is for an HP Touchsmart!! I know that we can use one over here since the boys laptop recently died! Working off of 1 computer for 4 people is horrible!!

Anyway... go here and check out the contest!!

Good Luck!!

First pictures with the new camera

I am still learning... a lot but here are a few of the 1st pictures taken with my new camera!!!



I had some of Conner and Avery but like always, they look goofy!! It is so hard to get them to be serious for a picture. One of these days I am going to post the pictures I take of them but I know they will kill me when that happens!!

My Christmas Present!!

Ahhhh I got an early Christmas present from Chris and the kids!!! I have wanted a new camera for a long time and did not think it would be any time soon when I got this camera. A few days before our trip to Florida, Chris talked to the boys and let them decide if they should give me my Christmas present early or wait until Christmas.

They made a great choice (on both the gift and the idea of giving it to me early).

I got a new camera!!! YAY!!

I have to admit it is not the one I wanted but I LOVE this camera. This is actually so much better than the one I wanted. I am so thankful that Chris is a researcher and will do his homework before getting me something. He told me he had been looking and researching for about 4 months on this.

.....he did promise that I would get one before Conner graduated from high school. He did it with 3 years to spare. I should be able to take some great pictures by the time Conner graduates! I actually can not wait to take advantage of the free classes that come with the camera. I think I have found a new hobby.

The New Addition!

To start off with... this is NOT, I repeat NOT a new addition for our house!! My dad has wanted another dog for a long time and my mom has said.. NO, NO, NO. Well actually she said that if dad got another dog, she was packing her bags. Funny thing is when MOM can in the door HOLDING THE DOG, she turned to Kennedi and said, "Kennedi, see Grandma's new dog?"

Ummmmm. I THINK NOT!! THAT IS PAPA'S NEW DOG!! I think he is happy he finally won!!!


It all started the day after Thanksgiving when my parents came over to the house and dad blurts out, "mom agreed to another dog IF it was a Pomeranian". Of course no one believed him at first with all the comments she has made about IF he brought home another dog. But she admitted it in front of witnesses. There was no turning back for her now!! They have had a Pomeranian once before and her name was Peanut. She was actually a Big Pom compared to this 4 pound baby.

Her name is Pamela, she is 5 years old and 4 pounds.... She is spayed, housebroken and AKC registered. She is so cute (and I am not at all a small dog person).

Poor baby has to get used to a lot of new things, a dog and a cat at Grandma's and a visiting 15 month old! Good thing she is used to an 18 month old that visited her old house!!


We hope that Grandma and Papa do get some sleep tonight and that Pammie, Pam, Pamela or Puppy gets a little sleep too!! Papa, DO NOT keep that poor dog up and on your lap all night long!!

Thanksgiving, The Iron Bowl and such....

I have been so bad about blogging lately. I realize this and still have not sat down to do anything about it.

This week went by so fast. The boys were off of school and we had a lot going on. So much that I actually had my camera with me most of the week and forgot to take any pictures. I think part of that is when I realized I did not have any pictures of the things going on my camera did not work correctly. I need a new one and its on my Christmas list but I am not crossing my fingers on it. However, Chris did promise me that by the time Conner graduated from high school I will have the camera I want. So.... only 3 years to wait (at the most).

Lets see, Thanksgiving.... hmm... holidays are not what they used to be I guess. I still love them but Chris worked on Thanksgiving so it was just Kennedi and I hanging out at the house all day. I have to admit that it felt like just another day to us. We picked the boys up at 3 and then headed up to the north side of Atlanta to my brother's house. They had a good portion of my family for dinner. We hit it at dessert (what better time!). We got there, ate some dessert and then I ate some of the leftover turkey. It was sooo good. Of course we had to head home right about the time the turkey was kicking in so I was a little tired on the ride home.

Poor Chris sent me a message from work that day telling me that the cafeteria at the hospital was not even open so he was stuck with a peanut butter sandwich and then golden grahams for dessert. What a way to spend a holiday! I think its horrible that people are stuck working on a holiday and they do not even get to eat. Thankfully he is off on Christmas so at least then we will have a good meal on the actual holiday as a family!

Chris did get his Thanksgiving dinner, just a day late. Last Christmas, Santa brought Chris a turkey fryer and Friday we decided to take it out and use it... FOR THE FIRST TIME! I had never had fried turkey before and when I looked at it after it was cooked I was not sure about it. When I bit into a piece he cut, it was great!! We will be frying our turkey for our Christmas dinner this year! Again, part of my family came over to have some food and enjoy a football game.

Kennedi and her cousin Bryan cheering on Auburn! (and that is all of the pictures from the week)

After we got the turkey done and we ate it was game time!! The game we wait all year for... THE IRON BOWL (Auburn vs Alabama). Ok maybe not all year since Chris is a Georgia fan and I am an Auburn fan, that maybe the game we wait all year for.... but I digress. I have to admit going into the game I figured that we were going to get stomped. I mean really, a high school team could have beaten Auburn this year and now we had to play the #2 team in the nation... like we have a chance. Oh it was good!!! I wont go into all the details (mainly because my memory for detail is not good) but we were extremely close to the upset! But... we did not get it and that is OK. We played a closer game than anyone thought and now... there is always next year!!!

So, now it is Sunday, a day of getting ready to head back to school in the morning. Conner has spent a good portion of the day reading a book he was supposed to read over break (and started last night). And Avery and I went on the hunt for guitar strings to replace the one his teacher broke the last week of school. Wow I already miss break!! I guess it is time to sit and relax and get ready for another typical week with kids!!